What Is Manhood?

Your Debate Is Raging: What Is Manhood?

Last week, we published a piece by Ian Lang on the commoditization of manhood. Lang argued that men are being sold an idea of masculinity that is nothing more than a marketing ploy, writing that the current rage of nostalgia for the products and practices of times past is nothing more than a superficial way to define male identity.

Manhood, he wrote, is not something learned but is achieved when you "live your life" — when you own up to it when circumstance calls.

ArtofManliness, a site that operates on the notion that masculinity is more about nurture than nature, countered Lang's argument with a rebuttal that relied on this argument:

"But while you can be genetically male, manliness is something that must be learned, earned, and proved."

The two articles set off an impassioned debate among readers of both sites, who argued over these wildly disparate views of what constitutes manhood.

Commenter Joe O. wrote on ArtofManliness: "I would think that the author of the AskMen article would realize that just like math, reading, or history, manliness is something that must be learned and pr[a]cticed."

Meanwhile, Kevin, a commenter on Lang's article, wrote: "While I agree that maleness should not be a commodity for sale, I don't have a problem with men contemplating their own manhood."

And another commenter, with the apt name FedUp, summed up his thoughts thusly: "The key to become a man is to live a moral life."

Lang has responded to the the debate with a new article that takes into account the the "nurture" side of the argument. You can read the piece here.

But what the debate essentially boils down to is this question: Is masculinity innate, or is it learned? Let us know what you think below.